Aerosol disseminator

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein shows a twocompartment disseminator for generating aerosols of smoke, poisons, gases, and other lethal and non-lethal agents. One disseminator compartment houses the propellant and the other compartment houses the agent. A bulkhead separates the two compartments. Sonic nozzles are formed in this bulkhead. The gases generated by propellant combustion are vented through these nozzles at sonic velocity into passageways formed in the solid agent. The agent is eroded, finely atomized and vaporized by the gases and expelled through exit orifices. The vaporized agent now condenses into minute particles to form with the gas an aerosol having long-term effectiveness. Close control of agent concentrations and dissemination time is also achieved.

United States Patent Evans et al. 1 July 25, 1972 [54] AEROSOLDISSEMINATOR 3,396,659 8/1968 Akhagen ..102 45 x [72] Inventors: Robertw. Evans Hemdom Richard 3,352,238 11/1967 Spragg etal. ..102/39 Grimm,Triangle; Myron A. Olstein, Fairfax, both of Va.

[73] Assignee: The Susquehanna Corporation, Fairfax,

[22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 119,281

[52] U.S.Cl ,.l02/39,23/28l [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 5/20 [58] Field ofSearch..102/39, 70, 45, 86.5; 23/281; 60/39, 47

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,305,319 2/1967 Kowalick eta1. ..l02/49 X 3,558,285 1/1971 Ciccone et a]. ..lO2/39 X 3,515,5186/1970 Halstead et a], 102/39 X 2,926,607 3/1960 Muller, Jr. et a1..l02/45 X Primary Examiner-Robert F, Stahl Atmrne v-Martha L. Ross 57]ABSTRACT An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein shows atwo-compartment disseminator for generating aerosols of smoke, poisons,gases, and other lethal and non-lethal agents. One disseminatorcompartment houses the propellant and the other compartment houses theagent. A bulkhead separates the two compartments. Sonic nozzles areformed in this bulkhead. The gases generated by propellant combustionare vented through these nozzles at sonic velocity into passagewaysformed in the solid agent, The agent is eroded, finely atomized andvaporized by the gases and expelled through exit orifices. The vaporizedagent now condenses into minute particles to form with the gas anaerosol having longterm efi'ectiveness. Close control of agentconcentrations and dissemination time is also achieved.

16 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,857

INVENTORS ROBERT W EVA/V5 RICHARD C. GAP/MM Mrfio/v A. OLSTE/A/ 50 BYQwWVEY AEROSOL DISSEMINATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to an improvement in disseminators, and moreparticularly to a two-compartment disseminator useful for formingaerosols of smoke, poisons, gases, and other lethal and non-lethalagents.

In the dissemination of agents of this type, it is desirable for theagent to remain suspended in the dispersing gas for suffrcient time toallow the agent to perform effectively its intended function. If theparticle size of the dispersed agent is too large, the rapid settling ofthe agent particles out of the aerosol suspension will lower theeffectiveness of the aerosol as well as reduce the effective areacoverage.

It can also be an important factor as regards agent effectiveness if theagent can be disseminated in a rapid and concentrated manner. Where theagent is directed against personnel, rapid dissemination eliminates theopportunity for individuals against whom the agent is directed to takeprotective action or to seize the disseminator and throw or launch itback in a i return direction. Rapid dissemination of aerosol withlongtermagent residence will also provide a relatively large openareacoverage.

It has been discovered that in a two-compartment agent disseminator, theabove-described advantages can be attained if there is sonic flow of thehot combustion gases from the combustion compartment or chamber into thecompartment housing the agent. The sonic flow is directed along a pathwhich causes the gases to contact the exposed surfaces of the agent,resulting in vaporization and rapid expulsion of the agent. Thevaporized agent condenses into minute, solid particles which with thecarrier combustion gas form an aerosol.

The flow of gases at sonic velocity causes virtually all of the agent tobe vaporized. The gases cause what appears to be an erosion of themolded or tightly-pressed solid agent whereby it becomes liquefied andfinely atomized. The atomized particles are then vaporized by the heatof the gas and carried by this high-velocity gas out of thedisseminator. In the aerosol cloud which is formed, it is preferred thatthe condensed agent particles be predominantly of the micron-range sizewhich will result in prolonged suspension of agent in the aerosol. Thisgives an improved effectiveness to the aerosol as compared with state-ofthe-art agent disseminators by providing operative agent concentrationsfor an extended period of time.

The rate of erosion of the agent is proportional to the mass flow ofcombustion gases. The use of sonic flow enables high mass flow rates tobe obtained. Thus, sonic flow provides a capability for very rapidgeneration of effective agent concentrations. The combination of thisresult with the prolonged suspension of agent particles also gives anincrease in effective area coverage for the agent in open areas orincreased agent concentrations in a confined area when compared with theprior art systems.

In the past, a variety of two-compartment agent disseminators have beendesigned; but generally these do not provide an aerosol with long-termresidence of the agent particles or have a capability for high mass flowrates to provide rapid dissemination of the agent.

For example, the U.S. Pat. to Bradner No. Re. 1 6,841 shows atwo'compartment disseminator in which the generated gases pass through alarge stack into the chamber that houses the agent and then over theagent to heat and volitize it and carry off the agent as a toxic vapor.The combustion gases are kept cool by an exchange of heat to avoiddecomposition of the agent. Dissemination of the agent according toBradner would be a relatively slow process. Furthermore, the cooling ofthe gases might lead to incomplete vaporization and a resultingundesired settling rate.

The U.S. Pat. to Stevenson No. 2,730,482 also shows a twocompartmentdisseminating device. The agent and propellant compartments areseparated by a screen or perforated plate through which the hotcombustion gases freely flow to contact intimately with a largefree-surface area of a loosely-packed solid agent. No provision is madefor sonic ejection of the combustion gases into the agent compartment tovaporize the agent to form upon condensation the small particle sizedesired for long residence in the aerosol.

The U.S. Pat. to York et al. No. 3,109,82l discloses the use of atwo-compartment disseminating device in which the heat transferred tothe agent is closely controlled to avoid its decomposition. York et al.use a system in which the agent is first caused to melt and the meltedagent caused to flow into an orifice where it is aspirated by theadjacent flow of combustion gases. The combustion gases are stated to bea high velocity gas stream which atomizes and vaporizes the meltedagent. However, the York et al. patent fails to recognize the advantagesof or even the need for sonic ejection, namely, the ability to increasethe residence time of the agent in the aerosol by eroding and vaporizingessentially all of a solid agent so that it condenses'to fine particlesin the desired micron-sized range, and the capability of having highmass flow rates. Furthermore, the York et al. system is, of necessity,more complex in design and structure of having to provide the additionalmeans for melting and causing flow of the agent.

In the U.S. Pat. to Spragg et al. No. 3,352,238, the propellantcompartment is separated from the agent compartment by a screen whichlimits the flame front produced by the propellant charge. The generatedgases flow through the screen into holes formed in the solid agent, theholes becoming gradually enlarged as the agent is disseminated. Spragget al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,238 states that the gases which are generatedprovide a relatively high velocity stream through the agent so thatthere is a limited heat exchange, and thereby minimization of thermaldecomposition of the agent. However, this patent teaches that only aminor portion of the agent is actually vaporized by the hot gases, thispurportedly being an advantage of the construction and operation of thedisclosed disseminator. Spragg et al. thus also fails to recognize theadvantages to be secured by having sonic ejection of the combustiongases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages of the prior art are overcomeby the provision of an aerosol disseminator in which the propellant orgas-generating composition compartment is separated from the compartmenthousing the agent. One or more apertures are provided in the structureseparating the compartments. When the composition is ignited, the hotgases which are generated by the burning of the composition raise thepressure in the compartment to a level sufficient to cause sonic flowthrough the one or more apertures. The apertures are arranged to causethe sonic flow of hot gases to contact the agent so that the agent willbecome vaporized and discharged from the disseminator. The agent thencondenses as minute particles whose size is such that they remainsuspended in the carrier gas and resist settling for a period of timesufficient for the agent to be fully effective. The sonic flow of hotgases permits tailoring of the mass flow rate and burn time to provide arapid vaporization and ejection of the agent such that a voluminous,concentrated aerosol suspension is quickly formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectionalview of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. .1 adapted to fit a conventionalmunition package; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary crosssectional view of a modifica tion of aportion of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings inwhich a cross-sectional schematic of a preferred embodiment of theinvention is shown in FIG. 1 for purposes of illustration, adisseminator is depicted having a gas generator 10 and agent 12 arrangedin tandem fashion within an outer casing 14. Separating the interior ofthe disseminator into two compartments is a stationary bulkhead or plate16 having one or more nozzle orifices 18. Each nozzle orifice is alignedwith a perforation or passageway 20 formed longitudinally in agent 12. Aconventional fuze/igniter assembly 22 is positioned at one end of thedisseminator casing 14 and reposes within the central perforation of thegas generator 10. At the opposite end of the disseminator, exit orifices24 are provided in communication with the passageways 20 of the agent.These orifices 24 are shown as being canted with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the disseminator.

In the operation of the disseminator shown in FIG. 1, the fuze/ignitercombination 22 is caused to ignite by impact, time delay or in any otherdesired way. The gas generator becomes ignited and burns. The gasgenerator compartment functions as a combustion chamber and the gaseswhich are generated build the pressure in this chamber up to a levelwhich causes sonic flow of these gases through the noules 18. The sonicflow or streams of these hot combustion gases are now directed throughthe passageways and vented externally of the disseminator through exitorifices 24.

As the hot gases flow through the passageways 20, they briefly contactand erode the exposed surface of the agent 12. The eroded portionbecomes liquefied and finely atomized by this gas flow, and thenvaporized by the heat of gas; and the vaporized particles are carried bythe gases through exit orifices 24. The vaporized particles now condenseto minute solid particles to form with the combustion gases the desiredaerosol cloud.

Sonic flow of the gas is critical. At this velocity, virtually all ofthe eroded agent is finely atomized and vaporized. The resulting agentparticles which condense in the aerosol have been observed, in the caseof dissemination of CS agent, to be primarily 1 micron in size; however,the particle size will vary based upon the type of agent employed, itsmolecular weight, and other factors. As long as the size of theparticles is within the 0.1 to 3.5 micron range, undesired settling ofthe agent out of the aerosol should be deterred, although this range ofsizes is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the presentinvention.

The utilization of sonic flow provides the capability to controlprecisely mass flow rates of the combustion gases and the burning timeof the gas-generating composition. The rate of agent erosion isproportional to mass flow rate, and agent dissemination time is, ofcourse, essentially coincident with burning time. Thus, sonic flowpermits close control of agent concentrations and agent disseminationtime. It has been found that for many applications large mass flow ratesand short dissemination times are preferred and the gas-generating grainand sonic nozzles can be designed accordingly.

The actual design function is facilitated by the utilization of sonicflow because recourse can now be had to conventional rocket motorinternal ballistics. Such factors as nozzle sizing, burning rates, grainconfiguration and the like can be readily solved by the use ofconventional techniques and formulas for the mass flow rate andcombustion time dictated by or desired for the planned end use of theagent.

To ensure continuous sonic flow, the pressure within the combustionchamber compared to the pressure with the agent compartment must be keptat a ratio of about two-to-one or greater in accordance with standarddesign practice. Care must be taken during operation that the pressurein the agent compartment does not increase to a level that causespressure fluctuations in the combustion chamber and a loss of sonicflow. To prevent this from occurring, the exit orifices 24 arepreferably sized to be at least twice the cross-sectional area of thesonic nozzles 18.

FIG. 2 is included to illustrate how the present invention, such asshown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, can be adapted to fit a conventionalmunition package.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a riot-control grenadehaving a generally cylindrical body closed at each end by circularplates 32 and 34, the latter commonly known as a bouchon plate. Theplates are secured by a plurality of pins 36 spaced around the peripheryof the body 30 at each end or by any other conventional means.

The interior of the grenade is divided into two compartments by astationary nozzle plate or bulkhead 38 which is shown as welded to theinside surface of body 30. One compartment 40 serves as the combustionchamber and houses the propellant grain 42 and fuze/igniter assembly 44.The other compartment 46 contains the agent 47.

The nozzle plate 38 has a plurality of nozzle openings 48 sized to ventthe gases generated in compartment 40 at sonic velocity into compartment46. Aligned with each nozzle 48 is a longitudinal passageway 50 formedin the agent 46 for passage of the combustion gases.

Plate 32 contains a centrally-located exit orifice 52 aligned with thepassageway 50 at the longitudinal axis of the grenade. Orifice 52 ventsthe hot gases and vaporized agent axially of the grenade. Additionalexit orifices 54 are formed in the periphery of the body 30 adjacent toplate 32. These orifices 54 communicate with the passageways 50 whichare parallel with but offset from the longitudinal axis of the grenade.These latter passageways, as shown, are formed with a rightangle turn atthe inside face of plate 32. Orifices 54 vent the hot gases andvaporized agent radially out from and omnidirectionally about grenadebody 30.

The remaining structure of the grenade includes a conventionalpropellant inhibitor 56, and a spacer ring 58 positioned to cushion thepropellant grain 42 and to space the grain from nozzle plate 38 toensure communication between the nozzles 48 and chamber 40. The grenadealso has a conventional pullring and pin assembly 60 and arming handle62 positioned at the top of the fuze/igniter assembly 44. The latterassembly is screw-mounted into the grenade at bouchon 34.

A riot-control grenade is an example of where it is preferred to have anextremely fast dissemination of the riot-control agent in order to avoidthe opportunity for a rioter to pick up and hurl back the grenade priorto the complete dissemination of the agent. The above-described grenadecan readily meet this requirement without the need to explode thegrenade or subject the rioters to fragment hazards. The propellant 42and sonic nozzles 48 are accordingly designed to give a high mass flowrate of generated gases at sonic velocity so that the agent 47 isquickly eroded, atomized, vaporized and discharged from the grenade oncethe propellant is ignited. The result is the nearly instantaneousgeneration of the aerosol cloud. The kinetic energy of the gas causes afurther expansion of the cloud even after the agent has been completelyexpelled from the grenade so that a large open area is quicklyencompassed by the aerosol. The particles of agent being of the desiredsmall size remain suspended in the carrier gas to effect theriot-control function. In practice, 40 grams of CS have beendisseminated in one second. The gases vented through the exit orifice 52impart a skittering thrust to the grenade to deter seizure by therioters and also increase area coverage.

Canting of the exit orifices, such as shown in FIG. 1, serves toincrease the lateral width of the aerosol cloud by ejecting the gas andvaporized agent at an angle to the longitudinal axis of thedisseminator. Similarly, the side orifices 54 (FIG. 2), which in effectare canted at a angle, cause a marked increase in the lateral width ofthe cloud. The gases vented through any exit orifice having a thrustcomponent along the longitudinal axis will cause thrusting of thedisseminator and thereby an increase in area coverage by the aerosolwhich is formed. If desired, exit orifices such as 24 (FIG. 1) and 52(FIG. 2) can be provided with expansion cones to increase the velocityof the ejected gases and vaporized agent with a resulting increase inthe size of the aerosol cloud.

While FIG. 2 depicts one type of munition package suitable as adisseminator, it is merely representative of munition packages which canbe used. The disseminator is equally adaptable to other types ofmunition vehicles including, as examples, rocket warheads, artilleryrounds, and prime munition vehicles. As regards the last type, thedisseminator would be classed as a submunition and could be provided inlarge numbers or clusters for dispensing over a wide target area priorto actuation.

The use of the present disseminator is not limited solely to munitions,nor must the disseminator necessarily be thrown or launched to beeffective. For example, it could be used as a stationary smoke marker orinsecticide disseminator, or positioned in a bank or other building tothwart robbers by dissemination of an ineapacitating agent or the likewhen triggered. If desired, the disseminator can serve both as thevehicle and the payload by utilizing the ejected gases and vaporizedagent to launch and/or sustain the disseminator in flight. Uses for suchversatile devices are readily foreseen in crop-dusting and the laying ofsmokescreens, for example.

The external configuration of the disseminator is likewise not criticalalthough only tubular embodiments have been illustrated herein. The enduse will be some extent dictate the shapeof the disseminator package butrectangular, cube and even pie-shapes are readily foreseeable.Additionally, the exit orifices which vent the combustion gases andvaporized agent to the outside can be selectively positioned to attainthe desired aerosol plume pattern.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of FIG.2. As before, bulkhead or plate 38 is made stationary within body 30 andis positioned to separate the propellant 42 from agent 47.

The plate 38 contains several alternative arrangements for nozzles 48.The uppermost part of plate 38 shows a plurality of nozzles 48a incommunication with a single passageway 50, in contrast with the singlenozzle per passageway construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Also, thesenozzles 48a are here shown as being canted so that the combustion gaseswill be directed into passageway 50 at a slight angle. This cantingchanges the flow path of the hot gases and results in increasing theerosion rate of the agent 47. Thus, less propellant is required tovaporize the agent and higher agent-to-propellant loading ratios can berealized.

The central part of plate 38 in FIG. 3 shows a nozzle 48b opening into amilled dome 49 formed downstream in the plate. The dome 49 permits freeexpansion of the gases venting through nozzle 48b at sonic velocity. Ifdesired, nozzle 48b can be canted as described above. If a controlledexpansion is preferred, the dome 49 can be replaced with an expansioncone of the type conventionally used in the design of rocket motornozzles.

The variety of agents which can be disseminated find utility asinsecticides, rescue and marker smokes, and antipersonnel toxicants, allby way of example. It is feasible to disseminate insecticides such asDDT, TEPP and Chlordane, among others; and various dye stuffs for theproduction of smokes such as l-methylaminoanthraquinone;l,4-ditoluidinoanthraquinone, among others. It is also feasible as regard antipersonnel agents to disseminate a variety of harrassing,nauseating, incapacitating and lethal agents such as CS, tear gas,mustard gas, and DM, among others. The agent is solid and can be cast orcan be formed as a tightly-pressed powder, and is shaped to fit in thespace provided in the disseminator device. The quantity of agent usedwill be based upon the volume and characteristics of the gas-generatorso that essentially all of the agent will be vaporized and ejected fromthe disseminator. In the case of CS agent, ejection efficiencies havebeen found to be consistently at least 95 percent. Furthermore, therecovery efiiciencies, that is, the amount of agent which isdisseminated in the effective particle sizes, have consistently been onthe order of 90 percent, which is a significant improvement over thestate-of-the-art disseminators.

The gas-generating compositions are preferably in a cast solid form tofacilitate their shaping and loading, but other types can obviously beused. The particular compositions selected are not critical provided thegases which are generated do not adversely affect the chemical structureor performance of the agent, or cause untenable environmental results asthe carrier gas of the aerosol. A likely source of candidatecompositions occur in the solid propellant field, the state-of-the-artof which is well defined and readily available in the publishedliterature and issued patents.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have beenparticularly shown and described, it is apparent that variousmodifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of theinvention, and it is to be understood, therefore, that only suchlimitations be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior artand set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A disseminator for generating aerosols of lethal or nonlethal agentscomprising:

a. a first compartment, said first compartment including:

1. a gas-generating composition;

b. A second compartment separate from said first compart' ment, saidsecond compartment including:

I. an expellable agent having a composition which permits vaporizationby the gases generated in the first compartment, and which condenses asagent particles after expulsion from the disseminator,

2. at least one passageway for providing gas-flowing contact with saidagent;

c. means for igniting said gas-generating composition;

d. means for separating said first and second compartments;

e. said separating means defining at least one sonic orifice providingcommunication between said first and second compartments for ventinggases, generated by the burning of said composition in said firstcompartment, at sonic velocity into said second compartment such thatsaid generated gases flow through said at least one passageway tocontact and cause vaporization of the agent therein, said gases andvaporized agent being expelled from the disseminator to provide anaerosol of condensed agent particles and carrier gas.

2. A disseminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a. said first and second compartments are arranged in tandem;

b. said separating means is a bulkhead positioned between and separatingsaid compartments;

c. said sonic orifice being formed in said bulkhead.

3. A disseminator as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

a. said sonic orifice is canted.

4. A disseminator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a. A plurality of sonic orifices formed in said bulkhead;

b. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent in said secondcompartment;

c. said sonic orifices being aligned to vent generated gases into saidplurality of passageways.

5. A disseminator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a. a plurality of exit orifices formed in communication with saidplurality of passageways for venting the generated gases and vaporizedagent externally of said disseminator, whereby an aerosol of said agentis formed.

6. A disseminator as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

a. said sonic orifices are canted.

7. A disseminator as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

a. more than one sonic on'fice is aligned to vent generated gases intoeach of said plurality of passageways.

8. A disseminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a. said separating means is a bulkhead positioned between and separatingsaid compartments;

b. said sonic orifice being formed in said bulkhead.

9. A disseminator as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a. a plurality of sonic orifices formed in said bulkhead.

10. A disseminator as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

a. said sonic orifices are canted.

11. A disseminator as claimed in claim 9, further comprismg:

a. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent in said secondcompartment;

b. said sonic orifices being aligned to vent generated gases into saidplurality of passageways.

12. A disseminator as claimed in claim 11, further comprisa. a pluralityof exit orifices formed in communication with said plurality ofpassageways for venting the generated gases and vaporized agentexternally of said disseminator. whereby an aerosol of said agent isformed.

13. A disseminator for generating aerosols of lethal or nonlethal agentscomprising:

a. a disseminator housing;

b. a stationary bulkhead positioned within said housing to divide theinterior of said housing into first and second compartments;

c. said first compartment functioning as a combustion chamber andincluding:

1. a propellant grain, 2. an igniter for said grain;

d. said second compartment including: i g

l ari'expe'llabl'e solid agent filling substantially the entire secondcompartment, said agent having a composition which permits vaporizationby the gases generated in the first compartment, and which condenses asagent particles after expulsion from the disseminator, 2. a plurality ofpassageways formed in said agent; e. a plurality of sonic nozzles formedin said bulkhead, said sonic nozzles establishing communication betweensaid first and second compartments,

1. each of said sonic nozzles being positioned to direct combustiongases, generated in said combustion chamber upon ignition and burning ofsaid propellant, into at least one of said plurality of passageways atsonic velocity whereby said agent is vaporized by said combustion gases;

f. a plurality of exit orifices formed at one end of said housing, saidexit orifices being in communication with said plurality of passagewaysto vent the combustion gases and vaporized agent externally of saiddisseminator, whereby an aerosol of condensed agent particles is formed.

14. A disseminator as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

a. said housing is ofsubstantially tubular shape; and

b. said bulkhead is positioned transversely to the longitu- W dinal axisof said housing. 15. A disseminator as claimed in claim 14, wherein: a.more than one sonic nozzle is positioned to direct combustion gases intoeach of said plurality of passageways. 16. A disseminator as claimed inclaim 14, wherein: a. said sonic nozzles are canted.

I II

1. A disseminator for generating aerosols of lethal or nonlethal agentscomprising: a. a first compartment, said first compartment including: 1.a gas-generating composition; b. A second compartment separate from saidfirst compartment, said second compartment including:
 1. an expellableagent having a composition which permits vaporization by the gasesgenerated in the first compartment, and which condenses as agentparticles after expulsion from the disseminator,
 2. at least onepassageway for providing gas-flowing contact with said agent; c. meansfor igniting said gas-generating composition; d. means for separatingsaid first and second compartments; e. said separating means defining atleast one sonic orifice providing communication between said first andsecond compartments for venting gases, generated by the burning of saidcomposition in said first compartment, at sonic velocity into saidsecond compartment such that said generated gases flow through said atleast one passageway to contact and cause vaporization of the agenttherein, said gases and vaporized agent being expelled from thedisseminator to provide an aerosol of condensed agent particles andcarrier gas.
 2. A disseminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a. saidfirst and second compartments are arranged in tandem; b. said separatingmeans is a bulkhead positioned between and separating said compartments;c. said sonic orifice being formed in said bulkhead.
 2. an igniter forsaid grain; d. said second compartment including: 1 an expellable solidagent filling substantially the entire second compartment, said agenthaving a composition which permits vaporization by the gases generatedin the first compartment, and which condenses as agent particles afterexpulsion from the disseminator,
 2. a plurality of passageways formed insaid agent; e. a plurality of sonic nozzles formed in said bulkhead,said sonic nozzles establishing communication between said first andsecond compartments,
 2. at least one passageway for providinggas-flowing contact with said agent; c. means for igniting saidgas-generating composition; d. means for separating said first andsecond compartments; e. said separating means defining at least onesonic orifice providing communication between said first and secondcompartments for venting gases, generated by the burning of saidcomposition in said first compartment, at sonic velocity into saidsecond compartment such that said generated gases flow through said atleast one passageway to contact and cause vaporization of the agenttherein, said gases and vaporized agent being expelled from thedisseminator to provide an aerosol of condensed agent particles andcarrier gas.
 3. A disseminator as claimed in claim 2, wherein: a. saidsonic orifice is canted.
 4. A disseminator as claimed in claim 2,further comprising: a. A plurality of sonic orifices formed in saidbulkhead; b. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent in saidsecond compartment; c. said sonic orifices being aligned to ventgenerated gases into said plurality of passageways.
 5. A disseminator asclaimed in claim 4, further comprising: a. a plurality of exit orificesformed in communication with said plurality of passageways for ventingthe generated gases and vaporized agent externally of said disseminator,whereby an aerosol of said agent is formed.
 6. A disseminator as claimedin claim 4, wherein: a. said sonic orifices are canted.
 7. Adisseminator as claimed in claim 5, wherein: a. more than one sonicorifice is aligned to vent generated gases into each of said pluralityof passageways.
 8. A disseminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a.said separating means is a bulkhead positioned between and separatingsaid compartments; b. said sonic orifice being formed in said bulkhead.9. A disseminator as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a. aplurality of sonic orifices formed in said bulkhead.
 10. A disseminatoras claimed in claim 9, wherein: a. said sonic orifices are canted.
 11. Adisseminator as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a. a pluralityof passageways formed in said agent in said second compartment; b. saidsonic orifices being aligned to vent generated gases into said pluralityof passageways.
 12. A disseminator as claimed in claim 11, furthercomprising: a. a plurality of exit orifices formed in communication withsaid plurality of passageways for venting the generated gases andvaporized agent externally of said disseminator, whereby an aerosol ofsaid agent is formed.
 13. A disseminator for generating aerosols oflethal or non-lethal agents comprising: a. a disseminator housing; b. astationary bulkhead positioned within said housing to divide theinterior of said housing into first and second compartments; c. saidfirst compartment functioning as a combustion chamber and including: 14.A disseminator as claimed in claim 13 wherein: a. said housing is ofsubstantially tubular shape; and b. said bulkhead is positionedtransversely to the longitudinal axis of said housing.
 15. Adisseminator as claimed in claim 14, wherein: a. more than one sonicnozzle is positioned to direct combustion gases into each of saidplurality of passageways.
 16. A disseminator as claimed in claim 14,wherein: a. said sonic nozzles are canted.